October Newsletter
FROM THE OFFICE…
As we move into October, and the Thanksgiving holiday ahead, it is a great time to reflect with gratitude on an amazing first month of school. We have been so pleased with our September this year, and have enjoyed seeing all of our students embrace new classrooms, teachers, and challenges as we get underway with our academic programming.
A big thanks to everyone who joined us for our school Open House in September. Based on the feedback we received, people were grateful to be able to connect with our staff and site in that way. As the year progresses, there will be opportunities for families to access the school in other ways, such as concerts, special events, and report card conferences.
When it comes to connecting with staff, we’d ask that families please contact classroom teachers with questions or concerns first, and if required, they can find a mutually agreeable time to connect in person or on the phone. If you have additional questions or concerns, please feel free to connect with the school office, and hopefully someone can assist you, or set a time to meet with our school administrators, or other staff who can resolve concerns. We look forward to working together as we go forward in this exciting school year.
Wishing everyone a happy and enjoyable Thanksgiving long weekend when it comes.
Sincerely, Mr. J Brock, and Mr G. Lobb - Huron Centennial Admin team
Donation Information
Did you know you could support our school through a new online donation system? AMDSB is now part of Canada Helps and you can donate directly online to our nutrition program or support our students in other ways. Make a one-time or monthly donation today and receive a tax receipt! Visit canadahelps.org/en/charities/avon-maitland-district-school-board/
LITTLE CAESARS FUNDRAISER
We will once again offer our Little Caesars pizza kit fundraiser beginning on September 21st. Order information was sent home with students. Families are asked to submit the orders through school cash online. Orders are due on Thursday October 15th. There will be no late orders accepted. Delivery date is on Wednesday October 28th. There will be a school messenger sent out that day when orders are sorted and ready to be picked up. As a reminder to make arrangements for pickup as we do not have freezer space to store items. There will be volunteers at the school on delivery day until 4:30pm.
Terry Fox Fundraising Success
A heartfelt thank you to our students, families, and staff for their incredible support of this year's Terry Fox Run. Through your generosity and commitment, our school community raised an outstanding $2980.00 for the Terry Fox Foundation.
We are proud of everyone who contributed, whether through donations, participation in the run, or helping to spread Terry's message of hope, courage, and perseverance. Your support helps continue Terry Fox's dream of finding a cure for cancer and makes a meaningful difference in the lives of many Canadians.
Thank you for making this year's Terry Fox Run such a success! Together, we continue to show the strength and compassion of our school community.
SCHOOL COUNCIL NEWS
Next meeting: October 19, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. in the Library. If you wish to join us by virtual link, please contact the office or email [email protected]
The School Council is a key factor in the success of a school. Research indicates that when parents are involved in their child’s learning in a variety of ways, the success and achievement of the student is positively influenced. Our council supports activities such as sporting events, trips, classroom resources, fundraising, remaining knowledgeable about the school improvement plan and building a sense of belonging for all students and families. Please review the Ministry of Education guidelines for school councils School Councils: A Guide for Members
We are always looking for new members to join us. Please watch our school website for meeting minutes and agendas to be posted. We appreciate offers of support for school events, distributing fundraising items or sharing your ideas. Come out to a meeting to join the discussion and support your child’s school. ‘
We’re pleased to share that the executive group for this year’s School Council are as follows:
Chair - Jay McFarlan, Secretary - LeaAnne Ross, Treasurer - Becky Kyle, Staff Rep - Kim Finlayson
STUDENT ATTENDANCE
Did you know? Even sporadic absences add up. Missing two school days a month is the equivalent of 10% of the school year.
What we can do to make school attendance a priority
- Talk about the importance of showing up to school every day.
- Help your children maintain daily routines, such as getting a good night’s sleep.
- Try not to schedule dental and non-urgent related medical appointments during the school day.
- Help keep your student healthy. If you are concerned about a contagious illness, call your school or health care provider.
STAY UP TO DATE
Check out our website where all updates on the school calendar are live
https://huroncentennial.amdsb.ca/
Social Media Pages
Facebook: Huron Centennial School
School Cash Online
Please sign up for school cash online for all purchases related to school products and fundraising. https://www.schoolcashonline.com/
Bus Route and Weather Cancellations
Route and weather cancellations can occur at any time. Please use the following sites to stay informed. Be sure to subscribe to the BusPlanner App. You can choose Avon Maitland School Board then you pick Huron Centennial School and you can choose the bus number your child(ren) rides. This will show you if there are any cancellations or delays. Remember to turn on your notifications in your phone settings.
Huron Perth Transportation Services Website: www.ourschoolbuses.ca
Bus Planner Alerts Page: https://hpsts.mybusplanner.ca/
Safe Arrival Absence Attendance Reporting
The Safe Arrival Program is for your child’s safety; we are required to check attendance and place safe arrival telephone calls at the beginning of the school day. Please assist us by reporting the student absence using the SchoolMessenger website or App. This option is available 24 hours/day, 7 days a week. You may also call the school office. If the school is unaware of why a child is absent, calls will be made until a parent/guardian is contacted to verify the absence.
Using the SchoolMessenger (SafeArrival) website: go.schoolmessenger.ca.
The first time you use the website: Select “Sign Up” to create your account.
**Important: You must use the email address that you provided to the school in order to set up your account.
- Select “Attendance”
- Select “Report an Absence” Please continue to use the Safe Arrival System to report your attendance for your child.
If you have not already done so download the App onto your personal device by going into your Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.
Once you download the app:
-Tap Sign Up to create your account. **Important: You must use the email address that you provided to the school in order to set up your account.
- Select Attendance from the menu, and then iii. Select Report an Absence.
** Please do not adjust the notification settings in the app as it will impact the other messages you receive from the school via text and email.
- Call the toll-free number 1-844-518-5459 to report an absence using the automated phone system.These are really simple to use to report your student absent for the current day or future days ahead. As for reporting a Weather Day; using a weather day will not be accepted if the school is open and buses are running. If you do not feel comfortable sending due to weather conditions please use the Personal day option.
You can still call the school at this number if needed 226-532-8600
- Press #1 to leave a message in the Safe Arrival Call Mailbox.
- Please leave the students name, classroom teacher, reason for absence.
- Written absence notes from parents delivered to the office by siblings are also acceptable.
- Once attendance is taken by the classroom teacher, the Safe Arrival System will begin to call parents or emergency contact numbers for student absences not explained. It is vital for parents to provide us with home, work, and emergency contact telephone numbers. During the course of the year, if parents need to update this information for our records, please call or email the school.
SCHOOL DAY INFORMATION
Start 8:55am
End 3:15pm
Buses Depart School at 3:20pm
Please be advised that student drop-off is not permitted before 8:40 AM. There are no staff available to supervise students prior to this time, as our team is preparing for the school day. For the safety and well-being of all students, we kindly ask that families plan accordingly and ensure that children are not dropped off any earlier.
If you are dropping off your child(ren) after the start of the school day, please remind them to check in with the office so they are accounted for. We respectfully request that parents do not walk children directly to their classrooms, as this can cause disruptions to learning and impact the safety of both students and staff.
We understand that sometimes students need to be picked up early or have changes made to their end-of-day plans. To help us ensure a smooth and efficient process, please keep the following in mind:
- Same-day early pick-up requests must be communicated to the school by 2:00 PM. This allows the office enough time to relay messages and ensure your child is ready
- You can report early departures using the School Messenger Absence Reporting System by selecting the “ create an absence” and then use the “Early Departure” option and selecting the appropriate time.
- Please avoid calling with changes close to dismissal time, as we may not be able to accommodate late requests.
- Teachers do their best to prepare students for early pick-ups, but classroom activities may prevent individual reminders. To help with this:
- Please make sure your child is aware of the early pick-up time.
- If you need to get a message to your child or their teacher during the school day, contact the school office by phone or email. Email: [email protected]
- When you arrive for pick-up:
- Buzz at the front door, then proceed to the office to sign your child out.
- Your child will be called down to the office once you’ve arrived.
Thank you for helping us keep the end-of-day routine safe and organized for all students
MEDICATION AT SCHOOL
If your child requires any medication to be taken during the school day—including prescription or over-the-counter medications—please contact the school office by email to request the appropriate Medication Authorization Forms.
These forms must be completed and returned before any medication can be administered at school. This is to ensure the safety and well-being of all students. If you have any questions about medication procedures, please reach out to the office.
Tobacco/Alcohol/Drug-Free Environment
The use of tobacco, electronic products (such as vaping, electronic cigarettes and cigars and related products) and/or student possession of alcohol/illegal and restricted drugs, including cannabis, are prohibited on school property or within 20 metres of school boundaries. This also applies during Board or school-sponsored events and activities. This is in compliance with the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, which is enforced locally by Huron Perth Public Health. A progressive form of discipline, including suspension from school and fines (up to $5,000), is in place for students who break the law. In accordance with the Smoke-Free Ontario Act (SFOA), exceptions are made for the traditional use of tobacco that forms part of Indigenous culture and spirituality.
Online Safety and Appropriate Use of Technology
Students are to be reminded of the Responsible Use of Technology and Security Administrative Procedure, including the importance of using respectful language and making positive choices when using electronic communications and social media tools. Students are to be reminded that threats and comments made online are taken seriously and may have serious consequences, including potential criminal charges. Where there are concerns for the safety of students, staff, community members or Board property, the school board works with Huron OPP, Perth OPP and Stratford Police Services and appropriate actions are taken. The safety and well-being of students remains our top priority.
For More Information
For more details on each of these items, please refer to our Administrative Procedures on the Board website for details and the Safe and Welcoming Schools page for resources for families to continue the conversation.
Thank you for helping us create a safe, welcoming and inclusive school community.
SCHOOL BUS
This is an ongoing reminder regarding the privilege of bus transportation. Our drivers are working to create seating plans for their routes and to remain consistent in their expectations. The school bus is an extension of the school. It is a privilege to have access to transportation to and from school each day. Please review the transportation expectations for parents and students. Parents or caregivers remain responsible for the student until they load the bus, students will be responsible for their appropriate behaviour while on the bus, and the school takes responsibility for follow up regarding incidents on the bus. We expect that our buses will remain clean, seats will be respected, and students will be kind and polite to the driver and other riders.
Bus rules:
- No food (no eating) or drinks on the bus (therefore no wrappers, food waste or garbage will be found on the bus)
- Remain seated until the bus comes to a complete stop.
- Sit in your assigned seats.
- Keep the aisles clear.
- Face forward
- Hands and feet to yourself
As with any incidents that might occur at school, following a report of inappropriate behaviour, follow up will include further investigation of the details. It may also include reminders, a review of the bus expectations, contact with home or other steps to correct the behaviour. When an issue is ongoing, the student may lose the privilege of riding the bus for a set period.
Bus incident forms are completed by drivers and shared with the office. These incidents will be reviewed, notes will be scanned/emailed to families. Phone contact will follow when there are more than three incidents, an incident involves behaviour that may be considered for suspension or when bus privileges will be revoked for a period of time. Parents may be asked to meet with the student and administration to determine a plan for safe travel on the school bus.
Responsibility of Parents and Students
Huron Perth Transportation Services Policies and Procedures
CAYTO
It is time to register for Kindergarten 2027/2028! This year, our Kindergarten “Calling All Three Year Olds” event is in-person at our school on November 24th – 12:30-3:00pm. Please contact the school to book an appointment and begin the registration process.
Special Education Information
Special Education Plan 2026/2027
OCTOBER EVENTS
Oct 6- Novembers Milk/Pizza are available to purchase on School Cash Online
Oct 6- Jr Soccer at Huron Centennial Public School (Rain Date Oct 8th)
Oct 7- Picture Day
Oct 12- Thanksgiving No School
Oct 15- Sr Soccer at Clinton (Rain Date Oct 16th)
Oct 15- Little Caesars closes on School Cash Online- No Late orders accepted
Oct 19- Parent Council Meeting 6-7pm
Oct 20- Regional Cross Country (Rain Date Oct 22nd)
Oct 21- November Pizza and Milk orders due on School Cash- No Late order accepted
Oct 27- Grade 7 Immunizations
Oct 28- Little Caesars Delivery
November Upcoming Dates
Nov 5- Parent/Teacher Interviews 4-630pm (More information to come on booking times)
Nov 6- PA Day No school for students Parent/Teacher Interviews 9-1130am(More information to come on booking times)
Nov 11- Remembrance Day